Mao Asada

Mao Asada
Mao Asada at the 2014 World Championships.
Personal information
Native name	浅田 真央
Country represented	Japan
Born	September 25, 1990
Residence	Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
Height	1.63 m (5 ft 4 in)
Coach	Nobuo Satō Kumiko Sato Reiko Kobayashi
Former coach	Hiroshi Nagakubo Tatiana Tarasova Rafael Arutyunyan Machiko Yamada Mihoko Higuchi Yuko Monna
Choreographer	Lori Nichol
Former choreographer	Tatiana Tarasova Shanetta Folle Lea Ann Miller Machiko Yamada Mihoko Higuchi
Skating club	Chukyo University
Training locations	Toyota, Shin-Yokohama
Began skating	1995
World standing	10 (As of 3 April 2016)[1]
Season's bests	9 (2015–16)[2] 4 (2013–14)[3] 2 (2012–13)[4] 3 (2011–12)[5] 2 (2010–11)[6] 2 (2009–10)[7] 2 (2008–09)[8]
ISU personal best scores
Combined total	216.69[9] 2014 World Championships
Short program	78.66 (WR)[10][11] 2014 World Championships
Free skate	142.71[12] 2014 Winter Olympics
Medal record Ladies' Singles Figure Skating Representing  Japan Event 1st 2nd 3rd Olympic Games 0 1 0 World Championships 3 1 1 Four Continents Championships 3 2 1 Grand Prix Final 4 2 0 World Junior Championships 1 1 0 Junior Grand Prix Final 1 0 0 World Team Trophy 0 0 2 Total 12 7 4 Olympic Games 2010 Vancouver Singles World Championships 2008 Gothenburg Singles 2010 Turin Singles 2014 Saitama Singles 2007 Tokyo Singles 2013 London Singles Four Continents Championships 2008 Goyang Singles 2010 Jeonju Singles 2013 Osaka Singles 2011 Taipei Singles 2012 Colorado Springs Singles 2009 Vancouver Singles Grand Prix Final 2005–06 Tokyo Singles 2008–09 Goyang Singles 2012–13 Sochi Singles 2013–14 Fukuoka Singles 2006–07 St. Petersburg Singles 2007–08 Turin Singles World Junior Championships 2005 Kitchener Singles 2006 Ljubljana Singles Junior Grand Prix Final 2004–05 Helsinki Singles World Team Trophy 2009 Tokyo Team 2013 Tokyo Team

Mao Asada (浅田 真央 Asada Mao, born September 25, 1990) is a Japanese competitive figure skater and an Olympic silver medalist noted for her triple axel jumps. She is the only female figure skater who has landed three triple axels in one competition, which she achieved at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

She is the 2010 Olympic silver medalist, a three-time World champion (2008, 2010, 2014), a three-time Four Continents champion (2008, 2010, 2013), and a four-time Grand Prix Final champion (2005–06, 2008–09, 2012–13, 2013–14). She is also the 2005 World Junior champion, the 2004–05 Junior Grand Prix Final champion, and a six-time Japanese national champion (2006–2010, 2012–2013).

She currently holds the world record for the ladies' short program score.^[11] A former prodigy, Asada is the fifth woman and the first junior girl to land the triple axel, accomplishing this feat at the 2004–05 Junior Grand Prix Final. She won her first Grand Prix Final at the age of 15. Considered by many to be the best figure skater in the world at that time, Asada was 87 days too young to compete at the 2006 Winter Olympics. She is the first figure skater in a singles discipline from Asia to win multiple world championships. At the 2013 Skate America, she became the first singles skater, male or female, to win all seven of the current events on the Grand Prix series.^[13] She currently holds 15 Grand Prix series titles – the most among active singles skaters and third all-time behind Evgeni Plushenko and Irina Slutskaya.^[14] She is one of the most highly recognized athletes in Japan.^[15][16]

Personal life

Mao Asada was born in Nagoya, Aichi, Japan. She was named after the Japanese actress Mao Daichi. She attended Nagoya International School until the middle of 1st grade. After transferring, she graduated from Takabari Elementary School and Takabaridai Junior High.^[17] She received her high school diploma from Chukyo High School on March 15, 2009.^[18][19] After that, she enrolled in Chukyo University and graduated in March 2015.^[20] While growing up, she idolized Midori Ito.^[21]She learned to ice skate after school almost every day.

Her sister Mai Asada (two years older) is also a figure skater and finished 6th at the 2006 Four Continents Championships.^[22] She is now skating in shows.

Asada owns a miniature poodle named Aero, who is named after the chocolate confection made by Nestlé. Asada has used Aero in exhibition programs. In 2008, Asada got two new puppies named Tiara and Komachi.^[23]

Career

Early career

Mao Asada studied classical ballet from the age of three to nine, but in 1995 switched to figure skating, when her sister, Mai Asada, also switched from ballet to skating.^[21]

She won the Japanese novice national championships in the 2002–03 season, and earned an invitation to compete at the junior championships, where she placed 4th. She also competed in the senior national championships and placed 7th.

In the 2003–04 season, Asada repeated the same placements at the novice and junior level and placed 8th at the senior nationals. She won the Mladost Trophy, her first international event.

2004–05 season

In the 2004–05 season, Asada was age-eligible for junior international competitions. She competed in the ISU Junior Grand Prix series, winning both of her events. At the Junior Grand Prix Final, she won gold with an overall score 35.08 points ahead of the silver medalist, Kim Yuna. Asada won the Japanese Junior National championships, ahead of her sister who took the silver medal, and qualified for the 2005 Junior Worlds.

Mao Asada's win earned her an invitation to the senior national championships, where she won the silver medal. Asada was not age-eligible for the 2005 World Championships. At the Junior World Championships, she won with a 20.31 lead over the silver medalist Kim Yuna.^[24] She also set the junior-level ladies' record for the combined total (179.24 points) and the free skating (119.13 points).^[25] Both were broken in 2012 by Yulia Lipnitskaya and 2014 by Elena Radionova.

2005–06 season

Asada does a one-handed Biellmann spin during her free skating The Nutcracker (2005–06 season).

Having won everything on the junior level, Asada moved to the senior level for the 2005–06 season and competed on the Grand Prix circuit. During the Grand Prix Circuit, Asada defeated future medalists of 2006 Torino Winter Olympics - gold medalist Shizuka Arakawa, silver medalist Sasha Cohen, and bronze medalist Irina Slutskaya. At the 2005 Cup of China, she placed second in the short program and third in the free skating and won the silver medal. Asada won her second event, the 2005 Trophée Eric Bompard, after placing first in both the short and free skating. She earned a total score of 182.42 points, 7.30 points ahead over silver medalist Sasha Cohen and 9.12 points ahead of bronze medalist Shizuka Arakawa. Her medals qualified Asada for the 2005–06 Grand Prix Final. At her first Senior Grand Prix Final appearance, Asada won the event at the age of 15 years. She got a total score of 189.62 points after placing first in both programs, 8.14 points ahead of silver medalist Irina Slutskaya.^[26]

At the 2005–06 Japan Championships, Asada placed third in both programs and won the silver medal behind Fumie Suguri. She was not age-eligible for the Olympics.^[27] At the 2006 World Junior Championships, Asada finished 24.19 points behind gold medalist Kim, and 18.21 points ahead of bronze medalist Christine Zukowski. At this competition, Asada became the first lady to land a triple axel in the short program at an ISU championship.^[28]

2006–07 season

At her first event, the 2006 Skate America, Asada won the bronze medal behind Miki Ando and Kimmie Meissner. Asada had won the short program, but was fourth in the free skating, finishing with a total score 171.23 points. She was 21.36 points out of first place. Asada won her second event, the 2006 NHK Trophy with 199.52 points, setting the highest combined score in a Ladies' competition under the ISU Judging System and consequently, a world record.^[29] Her margin of victory was 20.21 points ahead of silver medalist Fumie Suguri.^[30] Asada went into the 2006–07 Grand Prix Final as the reigning champion. She placed second with 172.52 points, 11.68 behind gold medalist Kim Yuna. Asada had won the short program, but placed fourth in the free skating.

Asada won the 2006–07 Japan Championships by 26.11 points ahead of silver medalist Miki Ando. At the 2007 Worlds Championships, Asada was fifth in the short program, 10.03 points behind Kim Yuna, who placed first in that section of the competition with a score of 71.95 points, setting a new world record for the highest short program score. Asada won the free skating with a score of 133.13 points, setting a new world record for the highest free skating score, a record which stood for eight months.^[31] During her free skating, she successfully landed a triple axel, a triple flip-triple loop combination, a double axel, a triple lutz, a triple flip, and a triple lutz-double loop-double loop combination but under-rotated the second jump of a double axel-triple toe loop combination. She won the silver medal at her first Senior World Championships appearance, earning an overall of 194.95 points, 0.64 behind gold medalist Miki Ando and 8.31 ahead of Kim Yuna, who won the bronze.

2007–08 season

Asada does a cross-grab Biellmann spiral during her short program at the 2008 Worlds.

At the 2007 Skate Canada International, Asada was third in the short program and first in the long, finishing with the gold medal ahead of silver medalist Yukari Nakano. Asada won her second gold at the 2007 Trophée Eric Bompard with over 21 points ahead of silver medalist Kimmie Meissner.

Asada advanced to the 2007–08 Grand Prix Final in Turin, Italy. In the short program, Asada did not do the jump out of footwork required element and placed 6th with a score of 59.04 points. But the next day, she rebounded in the free skating to win the free skating with 132.55 points. She executed a triple axel, a triple flip-triple toe loop combination, a triple loop, a triple flip-triple loop, a double axel-double loop-double loop combination, and a double axel, but had a change-of-edge error in triple lutz. She won the silver medal with 191.59 points, 5.24 behind gold medalist Kim Yuna, who repeated as champion.

As in the previous year, Asada won the 2007–08 Japan Championships. Her final score was 1.15 points ahead of silver medalist and reigning World champion Miki Ando. Asada was placed on the Japanese team for both the World and Four Continents Championships. Having left her coach, Asada competed at both events without a coach but an official from the Japan Skating Federation accompanied her as needed. Competing for the first time at Four Continents Championships, Asada won both segments and finished 13.71 points ahead of silver medalist Joannie Rochette.

In March 2008, at the 2008 Worlds Championships, Asada won her first World title.^[32] She was second in the short program, 0.18 behind Carolina Kostner. In the free skating, she was second to bronze medalist Kim Yuna by 1.92 points but 0.88 ahead of silver medalist Carolina Kostner.

2008–09 season

At the 2008 Trophée Eric Bompard, Asada placed second in both programs and finished second overall with a score of 167.59 points, 12.54 behind Joannie Rochette. Asada won gold at the 2008 NHK Trophy with 191.13 points, 23.49 ahead of the silver medalist Akiko Suzuki. She qualified for the 2008–09 Grand Prix Final. Asada won the free skating with 123.17 points and the competition overall with a total score of 188.55 points, defeating longtime rival Kim Yuna of South Korea.^[33] Asada made history in the free skating by becoming the first woman to land two triple axels in the same program in an ISU competition, one in combination with a double toe loop.^[34]

At the 2008–09 Japan Championship, Asada was second behind Yukari Nakano in the short program. Asada landed three beautiful clean triple jumps in her free skating, three other triple jumps were downgraded, including two triple axels which were judged to be under-rotated.^[35] She received 117.15 points for her free skating for a total of 182.45 points overall. Placing second both in the short program and in the free skating, Asada won her third straight national title.

Entering the 2009 Four Continents Championships in Vancouver, Canada as the defending champion, Asada placed 6th in the short program but won the free skating. Her first axel attempt was popped into a single, but she gracefully executed the second, garnering 8.80 points for the jump. She also completed a triple flip-double loop-double loop, a triple loop, and a triple flip-double loop. Asada placed third overall in the competition behind Joannie Rochette of Canada who won silver and Kim Yuna who won the gold.

At the 2009 World Championships, Asada placed third in the short program with 66.06 points and 4th in the free skating, where she scored 122.03 points. She finished in fourth place with a combined total score of 188.09 points.

At the inaugural 2009 World Team Trophy, she won both programs and finished first overall in the ladies' event, with personal bests in the short program (75.84 points) and combined total (201.87) The Japanese team finished third overall at that event, trailing the United States and Canada.

2009–10 season

Asada performing her free skating to Bells of Moscow at the 2010 Winter Olympics.

For the 2009–10 Grand Prix series, Asada placed third in the short program and second in the free skating, finishing with the silver medal at 2009 Trophée Eric Bompard. At the 2009 Rostelecom Cup, she placed 6th in the short and 5th in the free after landing just two triple jumps in her free skating. She finished 5th overall, 21.65 points behind gold medalist Miki Ando.

At the 2009–10 Japan Championships, Asada was first in both programs and won her fourth Japanese national title, 8.72 points ahead of silver medalist Akiko Suzuki.^[36]

At the 2010 Four Continents Championships, Asada placed third in the short program with 57.22 points after under-rotating her triple axel, popping a triple flip and receiving a timing deduction of 1.00 point. She was first in the free skating with 126.74 points, 11.9 ahead of Akiko Suzuki, and won the gold medal with a total score of 183.96 points, 10.24 points ahead of Suzuki.^[37]

From February 23–25, Asada competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics. In the short program on February 23, she executed a triple axel-double toe loop, a triple flip and a double axel as well as receiving level fours for all her spins and her spiral sequence. She scored 73.78 points to place second in this phase.^[38] In her free skating on February 25, she succeeded in landing two triple axels, but under-rotated the first jump of a triple flip-double loop-double loop combination and popped a planned triple toe loop into a single.^[39] With 131.72 points from the free skating, Asada won the Olympic silver medal with a combined score of 205.50 points, 23.06 behind Kim Yuna of South Korea. She earned a Guinness World Record for the most triple axels performed by a female skater in a competition – one in the short program and two in the free skating.^[40] Asada was Japan's flag-bearer at the closing ceremonies.

At the 2010 World Championships, Asada placed second in the short program with 68.08 points, 2.32 behind Mirai Nagasu of the United States. In her triple axel-double toe loop combination, the axel was downgraded to a double, but she executed a triple flip and a double axel and received level fours on all her spins and her spiral sequence. Asada reclaimed the world title with an overall score of 197.58 points.^[41] She became the first singles figure skater from Asia to win multiple world championship titles.

2010–11 season

After Vancouver Olympics, Asada decided to relearn all of her jumps from scratch by getting back to basics.^[42] This contributed to her slump in the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons. Under the guidance of her new coach Nobuo Sato, she stripped her triple jumps to their rudimentary parts and relearned each takeoff and landing, beginning with a single rotation. While reworking her jumps, Asada did not skip any competitions in 2010-11 season.

Asada was assigned to the 2010 NHK Trophy and the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard ISU Grand Prix events. At the 2010 NHK Trophy, Asada placed 8th in both programs and finished 8th overall with a total of 133.40 points. At the 2010 Trophée Eric Bompard, Asada placed 7th in the short program, 5th in the free skating and 5th overall, scoring a combined 148.02 points.

At the 2010–11 Japan national championships, Asada was first in the short program and second in the free skating. She obtained a total score of 193.69 points and won the silver medal behind Miki Ando. At the 2011 Four Continents Championships, Asada placed second in both programs and won the silver medal with a score of 196.30 points, 5.04 points behind gold medalist Miki Ando. Her triple axel jump in free skating was ratified for the first time since 2010 Worlds Championship, with +1.29 grade of execution.^[43] At the 2011 World Championships, Asada placed 7th in the short program, 6th in the free skating, and finished 6th overall with 172.79 points.

2011–12 season

Asada began the 2011–12 season at the 2011 NHK Trophy. She placed third in the short program with 58.32 points and first in the free skating, garnering a total of 184.45 points and the silver medal, 1.79 behind Akiko Suzuki. At the 2011 Cup of Russia, Asada placed first in the short program with 64.29 points. She earned a level four on her straight line step sequence with +1.30 GOE. She won the event and qualified for the 2011–12 Grand Prix Final. She withdrew from the Final due to her mother's serious illness.^[44] Her mother died of liver cirrhosis in Nagoya Hospital while Asada was flying back to Japan.^[45][46]

Placing second in both programs at the 2011–12 Japan Championships, Asada secured her fifth national title and a berth to the ISU Championships.^[47] First in the short program and second in the free, Asada won the silver medal at the 2012 Four Continents Championships behind gold medalist Ashley Wagner of the United States. At the 2012 World Championships, Asada placed fourth in the short program and sixth in the free skating, finishing sixth overall with 164.52 points.

After a disappointing sixth at the 2012 World Championships, her mother's death, and vexation of learning to jump again, Asada was considering not to compete. Upon visiting her choreographer Lori Nichol on May 2012 for an exhibition number, Asada realized that she still liked skating.^[48]

2012–13 season

Asada began the 2012–13 season at the Japan Open, performing to Swan Lake. She won gold at her two Grand Prix events, the 2012 Cup of China and the 2012 NHK Trophy, qualifying her to the 2012–13 Grand Prix Final. Seven years after her triumph in Torino (Italy), and three years after her victory in Goyang City (Korea), Asada won her third title at the Grand Prix Final in Sochi (Russia),^[49][50] placing first in both the short program^[51] and free skating. Asada won her sixth national title at the 2012–13 Japan Championships.^[52]

At the 2013 Four Continents Championships, Asada placed first in the short program with a score of 74.49 points after landing her first triple axel this season, together with triple flip–double loop combination and a triple loop.^[53] She also won the free skating with a score of 130.96, taking the gold medal with an overall score of 205.45 points, while teammates Akiko Suzuki and Kanako Murakami took the silver and bronze medals respectively.^[54] This is the second time that Japan swept the Four Continents Championships' podium.

Asada returned to the World podium with a bronze medal finish at the 2013 World Championships with a personal best free skating score of 134.37. Asada placed fifth at the World Team Trophy and team Japan placed third.

2013–14 season

Asada performing her short program to Chopin Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 at the 2013 Skate America.

Asada began the 2013–14 season at the Japan Open, performing to Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto No. 2. She won gold at her two Grand Prix assignments, the 2013 Skate America and the 2013 NHK Trophy. With her victory at Skate America, she became the first singles skater, male or female, to win all seven of the current events on the Grand Prix series. At NHK Trophy, she set personal best scores for the free skating and total score. She advanced to the 2013–14 Grand Prix of Figure Skating Final where she took her fourth Grand Prix Final title. With this victory, she became the first woman to complete two consecutive Grand Prix seasons undefeated. At all three Grand Prix events, she won by a margin of over ten points. In late December, Asada competed in the 2013–14 Japan Championships. She led after a strong short program, but only placed 3rd in the free skating, dropping to 3rd overall.

In the team event at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games, Asada skated the ladies' short program. She fell on the triple axel and placed third individually; team Japan finished fifth. In the ladies' singles event, she placed 16th in the short program after falling on her triple axel, underrotating a triple flip, and doubling a triple loop. She rebounded in the free skating, earning a personal best score of 142.71 making her the third women to score above the 140 mark after Kim Yuna 2010 Olympics score and Yulia Lipnitskaya 2014 Olympics team event score. This placed her third in the free skating and sixth overall. Asada's free skating was the most technically difficult of all the ladies and the only one with a triple axel.^[55][56]

At the 2014 World Championships, she broke the world record for the short program by scoring 78.66, 0.16 points higher than the former record set by Kim Yuna at the 2010 Winter Olympics.^[11][57] Asada went on to score 138.03 in the free skating, winning her third world title with a total of 216.69, a personal best for her. With this victory, she became the third woman in the last 45 years (along with Michelle Kwan and Katarina Witt) and the tenth woman to have won three world championship titles.^[58]

After winning the World Championship title, Asada stated that there is a 50-50 chance she will continue her career.^[59] On 19 May 2014, Asada announced she intends to skip the next season.^[60] Asada said she is mentally and physically tired and wants a chance to focus on other aspects of her life, including attending university.

2015–16 season

On May 18, 2015, Asada announced her intention to make comeback in competitive skating after having taken a one-year break. She had resumed training with coach Nobuo Satou with the aim of returning to competition.^[61][62] Her first competitive performance of the 2015–16 season was at the 2015 Japan Open, where her first-place skate to Madama Butterfly led Team Japan to a first-place finish.

For the 2015–16 season Grand Prix series, Asada was assigned to compete at 2015 Cup of China and 2015 NHK Trophy.^[63] In Cup of China, she landed both her triple axels and placed first. She won the short program with a score of 71.73. Although she placed 3rd in the free skating with a score of 125.75, she came 1st overall. She went on to 2015 NHK Trophy and won bronze behind Satoko Miyahara after having problems with several of her jumping passes. She was placed sixth at the Grand Prix Finals of the season.

She won bronze in the Japan Championships and skipped the Four Continents Championships to focus for the upcoming World Championships.^[64]

Skating technique

Asada performs a one-handed Biellmann spin at the 2006 Skate America practice.

Asada is known for her flexibility in spins and spirals. During her first two years on the international scene, Asada became known for her signature move, the cross-grab Biellmann position. She is also noted for performing the one-handed Biellmann spin in competition. She has received +2.60 grade of execution for her spiral sequence.^[65] Asada is also known for the complexity of her footwork sequence and has earned +2.00 grade of execution.^[66][67]

Asada landed her first triple axel jump at the age of 12, and she became the first lady to perform a triple-triple-triple combination in national competition, which was a triple flip-triple loop-triple toe loop combination.^[68] At the age of 14, Asada landed a triple axel in her free skating program at the 2004–05 Junior Grand Prix Final, held in December 2004 at Helsinki, Finland, becoming the first junior girl to do one in an international event. She has since been known for her triple axel jumps.^[69]

Starting with the 2007–08 season, criteria for judging jump take-off and landing technique were made more rigorous, and Asada began to be penalized for under-rotating her jumps and for change-of-edge errors on her Lutz jump, colloquially called a "flutz."^[70]

Asada did not include salchow jumps in her junior and senior career programs until 2008. She had stated previously that the triple salchow was the first triple jump she had ever landed and that she did not have a problem landing it cleanly, but she was not comfortable using the jump in competition because it is one of her least favorite jumps.^[23] Asada added the triple salchow to her free skating program in the 2008 NHK Trophy^[71] and 2008–09 Grand Prix Final.^[72]

Normally, Asada uses a triple loop jump as her second jump in a combination, especially after the triple flip. However, she added the toe loop to her free skating as the second jump of her first triple-triple combination during the 2004–05 season,^[73] a triple flip-triple toe loop. In the 2006–07 season she used the double axel-triple toe, while in the 2007–08 season she performed the triple flip-triple toe loop again.

In the 2008–09 season, she executed the triple axel-double toe loop combination in international competition, first getting full credit for it at the 2008–09 Grand Prix Final.^[72] At that same competition, Asada became the first female skater to land two triple axels in the same program.^[34] She is also the only woman to have landed three triple axel jumps in the same competition at an ISU competition. She has a Guinness World Record for the most triple axels performed by a female skater in competition.^[40]

After finishing second in 2010 Winter Olympics, Asada decided on the drastic measure of reworking her jumps.^[74] The goal was a more fluid jump by adding speed to the approach run, which would increase the height of jumps and the speed of spins. Asada also corrected her habit of moving her shoulders up and down before making a jump. The reworking process set her back for two seasons. Asada found that her jumping began to suffer and she was making mistakes on all her jumps.^[75] During the 2012-13 season, her performance improved and she went on a winning streak. Her component score, which had mostly remained in the 7 range, edged above 8. By the 2013-14 season, Asada said, "every single one of my skating techniques had been changed."^[76] In 2014 Winter Olympics - Ladies Free Skating event, Asada had executed all six different types of triple jumps.

Asada has been known to practice and land quadruple jumps in training. She credits training alongside Takahiko Kozuka for improving her spins. The number of rotations she is able to achieve with one kick increased from 30 to 104.^[42]

Records and achievements

Record scores:

• Current world record holder for the ladies' short program score (78.66), set at the 2014 World Championships on 27 March 2014.^[77]
• Second woman to score over 200 points for the total score under the ISU Judging System.
• Former world record holder for the ladies' free skating score (133.13), set at the 2007 World Championships on 24 March 2007.^[23] Record was broken eight months later on 24 November 2007 by Kim Yuna (South Korea).^[31]
• Former world record holder for the ladies' combined total score (199.52), set at the 2006 NHK Trophy on 2 December 2006.^[23] Record was broken two years later on 28 March 2009 by Kim Yuna (South Korea).^[29]
• Former world record holder for the junior ladies' free skating score (119.13), set at the 2005 World Junior Championships on 3 March 2005. Record was broken seven years later on 3 March 2012 by Yulia Lipnitskaya (Russia).^[25]
• Former world record holder for the junior ladies' combined total score (179.24), set at the 2005 World Junior Championships on 3 March 2005. Record was broken seven years later on 3 March 2012 by Yulia Lipnitskaya (Russia).^[25]

Triple axel:

• Both the youngest (14 years old) and the oldest (25 years old) woman to land a triple axel in international competition.
• Fifth woman to land the triple axel jump in international competition (2004-05 Junior Grand Prix Final).
• First junior girl to land the triple axel jump in international competition (2004-05 Junior Grand Prix Final).
• First woman to land the triple axel jump at the World Junior Championships.
• First woman to land three triple axel jumps in one competition (2010 Winter Olympics).^[78]
• First woman to land a triple axel in the short program at the Winter Olympics.^[79][80]
• First woman to land two triple axel jumps in the same program (2008–09 Grand Prix Final).

Other:

• First figure skater in a singles discipline from Asia to win multiple world championships.
• First singles figure skater to win all seven of the current events on the Grand Prix circuit.^[81]
• First Japanese figure skater in any discipline to win multiple world championships.
• First and, currently, only woman to complete two consecutive Grand Prix seasons undefeated.
• Holds 15 Grand Prix series titles - the most among active singles skaters^[13] and third all-time behind Evgeni Plushenko and Irina Slutskaya.
• Tied with Irina Slutskaya for the most Grand Prix Final titles won by a woman.
• Tied with Fumie Suguri for the most Four Continents Championships titles won by a woman.

Coaching changes

Rafael Arutyunyan, Tatiana Tarasova, and Mao Asada at the 2007–08 Grand Prix Final

Coach Nobuo Sato (left) and Mao Asada (right) at the 2011 Cup of Russia

Asada originally trained in Japan, but left for the U.S. in August 2006 to train with Rafael Arutyunyan in Lake Arrowhead, California. There she was able to escape the overcrowding of Japanese rinks and the pressure of the Japanese media. Before 2008 Four Continents Championships, she split with Arutyunyan^[82] and returned to Japan to practice on the new Aurora Rink at Chukyo University, where she does not have any problems getting ice time. She went to Worlds, and won, without a coach.^[83]

During the summer of 2007, Asada received additional training in Russia from Tatiana Tarasova, while Arutyunyan remained her primary coach. The following summer, after leaving Arutyunyan, Asada returned to Russia, and formally decided to be coached by Tarasova.^[84] However, their cooperation was hampered by Tarasova's health problems and Asada trained mostly in Nagoya, Japan, with her assistant Jeanetta Folle; in February 1, 2010, Asada indicated she had not been coached by Tarasova since the 2009 Cup of Russia in October.^[37] Tarasova was present with Asada at the 2010 Olympics but after the event, Asada chose to be based in her hometown Nagoya and parted ways with Tarasova.^[85]

On June 17, 2010, Asada announced that her new jump coach was Hiroshi Nagakubo.^[86] In September 2010, Nobuo Sato became Asada's new coach and Asada ended her relationship with coach Nagakubo.^[87][88]

Public life and endorsements

Asada is very popular in Japan and is credited with increasing the popularity of figure skating in Japan. She began to draw attention while still on the junior circuit and is a household name in Japan, known by the affectionate nickname "Mao-chan".^[89] During the 2014 Winter Olympics, Asada became the most discussed and mentioned athlete of the Olympics on the social networking website Twitter, ahead of Kim Yuna, ice hockey player T. J. Oshie, and snowboarder Shaun White.^[90]

Asada headlines her own exhibition show called "The Ice", which began from the summer of 2008, with her sister Mai Asada.^[91] Her skating music was compiled on two albums by EMI Music Japan: Mai & Mao Asada Skating Music and Mai & Mao Asada Skating Music 2008–09. The Asada sisters have also been named as goodwill ambassadors to Canada, and have traveled to Canada to serve in that role.^[23]

In 2011, Asada launched her own kimono brand named MaoMao.^[92][93] In January 2012, Asada cancelled the release of a book on her skating career; she stated, "The way the book was advertised was different from what I had in mind."^[94]

Asada has appeared in many variety television shows as well as in commercials. She and her dog Aero, named after Aero chocolates, have been featured in chocolate commercials in Japan.^[23] Asada's sponsors include Coca Cola, Itoham Foods, Kao, Lotte, Nestlé, Oji Paper Company, Olympus Corporation, Omron, Sato Pharmaceutical, United Airlines, and Weider.^[95][96] Other sponsors include Weider In Jelly, Nippon Life Insurance Company, and Weavajapan. On 25 December 2013, Japan Airlines unveiled a new Boeing 777–300 (JA8942) with a special Mao Asada livery to promote Japan's participation in the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.^[97]

During the 2010 Winter Olympics, a popular Vancouver Japanese street food vendor, Japadog, named a hot dog after Asada called the Mao Dog. Similarly, a local sushi store created a sushi roll and named it the Mao Roll after Asada.^[98] After Asada's silver medal win, Japanese dollmaker Kyugetsu created a Mao Asada hina doll in celebration of her efforts.^[99] In December 2013, chrysanthemum farmers in the Ryukyu Islands named a new crop of chrysanthemums "Mao Orange" after the colour of Asada's short program dress from the 2012–13 season.^[100]

On April 8, 2014, Asada's exhibition named "Smile" opened at Takashimaya department store in Tokyo's Nihonbashi district. This drew more than 10,000 visitors on its first day, outperforming every other event opening at the establishment for the past 10 years.^[101] In just nine days, it hit more than 100,000 visitors, the shortest period to reach the milestone in Takashimaya's history.^[102] The exhibition includes a collection of 30 costumes that were worn by Asada and a display of medals she has won over the years, among them the silver she scooped up at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics.

On July 5, 2014, Asada made her debut as a reporter for the long-running travel program “Sekai Fushigi Hakken!” by TBS. For this documentary, she traveled Austria, Slovakia and Hungary for eight days to find the origin of figure skating.^[103] In March 2015, Asada made her debut as DJ host for her weekly radio show program "Mao Asada's Nippon Smile". This program was sponsored by Sumitomo Life Insurance Ltd. Co. and aired in TBS radio from March 2015 to June 2015.^[104]

She is also a big fan of Japanese pop star Ayumi Hamasaki, and was seen congratulating her on her 10th Anniversary. Asada is frequently referred to in French media as the 'goddaughter' of figure skater Philippe Candeloro, who has called himself her 'godfather'.

Programs

Asada does an arabesque spiral during her exhibition program Smile at the 2013–14 Grand Prix Final.

Asada does a Y spiral during her exhibition program Caprice No. 24 at the 2010 World Championships.

Season	Short program	Free skating	Exhibition
2015–16 [105]	Bei Mir Bistu Shein by Sholom Secunda choreo. by Lori Nichol	Madama Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini choreo. by Lori Nichol	Puttin' On the Ritz by Irving Berlin performed by Fred Astaire choreo. by Lori Nichol
2014–15	Did not compete this season		This Little Light of Mine by Harry Dixon Loes performed by Yo-Yo Ma and Amelia Zirin-Brown choreo. by Lori Nichol
2013–14 [106]	Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E-flat major by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Lori Nichol	Piano Concerto No. 2 by Sergei Rachmaninoff choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Smile What a Wonderful World performed by Ima choreo. by Lori Nichol
2012–13 [92][107]	I Got Rhythm by George Gershwin choreo. by Lori Nichol	Swan Lake by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Mary Poppins choreo. by Lori Nichol
2011–12 [108]	Scheherazade by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Liebesträume by Franz Liszt choreo. by Lori Nichol	I Vow to Thee My Country by Libera choreo. by Lori Nichol Waltz in C-sharp minor, Op. 64, No. 2 by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova
2010–11 [109]	Tango (from Agony) by Alfred Schnittke choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Liebesträume by Franz Liszt choreo. by Lori Nichol	Ballade No. 1 in G minor, Op. 23, CT. 2 by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova
2009–10 [110]	Waltz from Masquerade Suite by Aram Khachaturian choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Bells of Moscow by Sergei Rachmaninov choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Caprice No. 24 by Niccolò Paganini choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova
2008–09 [111]	Claire de Lune by Claude Debussy choreo. by Lori Nichol	Waltz from Masquerade Suite by Aram Khachaturian choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Por una Cabeza (from Scent of a Woman) by Carlos Gardel, Alfredo Le Pera Payadora by Julián Plaza choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova Sing, Sing, Sing by Louis Prima choreo. by Lori Nichol
2007–08 [112]	Fantasia for Violin and Orchestra (from Ladies in Lavender) by Nigel Hess performed by Joshua Bell choreo. by Tatiana Tarasova	Fantaisie-Impromptu by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Lori Nichol	So Deep Is The Night Étude Op. 10, No. 3 by Frédéric Chopin vocals by Lesley Garrett choreo. by Lori Nichol
2006–07 [113]	Nocturne Op. 9, No. 2 in E-flat major by Frédéric Chopin choreo. by Lori Nichol	Csárdás by Vittorio Monti choreo. by Lori Nichol	Habanera (from Carmen) by Georges Bizet vocal by Filippa Giordano choreo. by Lori Nichol
2005–06 [114]	Carmen by Georges Bizet choreo. by Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi	The Nutcracker by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky choreo. by Lori Nichol	Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen vocal by Eva Cassidy choreo. by Lori Nichol
2004–05 [115]	Over the Rainbow by Harold Arlen choreo. by Lea Ann Miller	La Boutique Fantastique by Gioachino Rossini, Ottorino Respighi choreo. by Lea Ann Miller	Pick Yourself Up by Natalie Cole choreo. by Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi
2003–04	Orchestral Suite (from My Girl 2) by Cliff Eidelman choreo. by Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi	Waltz-Scherzo in C major, Op. 34 by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky choreo. by Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi	Habanera (from Carmen) by Georges Bizet choreo. by Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi
2002–03	Say Hey Kids choreo. by Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi	Inca Dance and Andes by Cusco choreo. by Machiko Yamada, Mihoko Higuchi

Competitive highlights

Results[116]
International
Event	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12	2012–13	2013–14	2015–16
Olympics								2nd				6th
Worlds					2nd	1st	4th	1st	6th	6th	3rd	1st	7th
Four Continents						1st	3rd	1st	2nd	2nd	1st		WD
Grand Prix Final				1st	2nd	2nd	1st			WD	1st	1st	6th
GP Bompard				1st		1st	2nd	2nd	5th
GP Cup of China				2nd							1st		1st
GP NHK Trophy					1st		1st		8th	2nd	1st	1st	3rd
GP Rostelecom								5th		1st
GP Skate Canada						1st
GP Skate America					3rd							1st
International: Junior, Novice
Junior Worlds			1st	2nd
JGP Final			1st
JGP Ukraine			1st
JGP USA			1st
Mladost Trophy		1st N.
Helena Pajovic		1st N.
National
Event	2002–03	2003–04	2004–05	2005–06	2006–07	2007–08	2008–09	2009–10	2010–11	2011–12	2012–13	2013–14	2015–16
Japan Champ.	7th	8th	2nd	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	2nd	1st	1st	3rd	3rd
Japan Junior	4th	4th	1st
Japan Novice	1st	1st
Team events
Olympics												5T / 3P
World Team							3T / 1P				3T / 5P
Japan Open				1T / 1P	1T / 4P	1T / 1P		3T / 3P	1T / 5P		1T / 2P	1T / 1P	1T / 1P
GP = Grand Prix; JGP = Junior Grand Prix; N. = Novice level; WD = Withdrew T = Team result; P = Personal result; Medals awarded for team result only.

Detailed results

Asada at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics medal ceremony

Asada (center) on the podium at the 2014 World Championships

Asada (center) on the podium at the 2010 World Championships

Asada (center) on the podium at the 2008 World Championships

(Small medals for short program and free skating awarded only at ISU Championships. At team events, medals awarded for team results only.)

2006–present

2015–16 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
March 28 – April 3, 2016	2016 World Championships	9 65.87	7 134.43	7 200.30
December 24–27, 2015	2015–16 Japan Championships	5 62.03	2 131.72	3 193.75
December 10–13, 2015	2015–16 Grand Prix Final	3 69.13	6 125.19	6 194.32
November 27–29, 2015	2015 NHK Trophy	4 62.50	2 120.49	3 182.99
November 6–8, 2015	2015 Cup of China	1 71.73	3 125.75	1 197.48
October 3, 2015	2015 Japan Open ^team event	–	1 141.70	1^T
2013–14 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
March 24–30, 2014	2014 World Championships	1 78.66	1 138.03	1 216.69
February 19–20, 2014	2014 Winter Olympics	16 55.51	3 142.71	6 198.22
February 6–9, 2014	2014 Winter Olympics ^team event	3 64.07	–	5^T
December 20–23, 2013	2013–14 Japan Championships	1 73.01	3 126.49	3 199.50
December 5–8, 2013	2013–14 Grand Prix Final	1 72.36	1 131.66	1 204.02
November 8–10, 2013	2013 NHK Trophy	1 71.26	1 136.33	1 207.59
October 18–20, 2013	2013 Skate America	1 73.18	1 131.37	1 204.55
October 5, 2013	2013 Japan Open ^team event	–	1 135.16	1^T
2012–13 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
April 11–14, 2013	2013 ISU World Team Trophy ^team event	5 59.39	5 117.97	3^T / 5^P 177.36
March 10–17, 2013	2013 World Championships	6 62.10	2 134.37	3 196.47
February 6–11, 2013	2013 Four Continents Championships	1 74.49	1 130.96	1 205.45
December 20–24, 2012	2012–13 Japan Championships	2 62.81	1 130.75	1 193.56
December 6–9, 2012	2012–13 Grand Prix Final	1 66.96	1 129.84	1 196.80
November 23–25, 2012	2012 NHK Trophy	1 67.95	2 117.32	1 185.27
November 2–4, 2012	2012 Cup of China	2 62.89	1 118.87	1 181.76
October 6, 2012	2012 Japan Open ^team event	–	2 122.04	1^T
2011–12 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
March 26–31, 2012	2012 World Championships	4 59.49	6 105.03	6 164.52
February 7–12, 2012	2012 Four Continents Championships	1 64.25	2 124.37	2 188.62
December 22–26, 2011	2011–12 Japan Championships	2 65.40	2 118.67	1 184.07
November 24–27, 2011	2011 Rostelecom Cup	1 64.29	1 118.96	1 183.25
November 11–13, 2011	2011 NHK Trophy	3 58.42	1 125.77	2 184.19
2010–11 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
April 24 – May 1, 2011	2011 World Championships	7 58.66	6 114.13	6 172.79
February 15–20, 2011	2011 Four Continents Championships	2 63.41	2 132.89	2 196.30
December 23–26, 2010	2010–11 Japan Championships	1 66.22	2 127.47	2 193.69
November 26–28, 2010	2010 Trophée Éric Bompard	7 50.10	5 97.92	5 148.02
October 22–24, 2010	2010 NHK Trophy	8 47.95	8 85.45	8 133.40
October 2, 2010	2010 Japan Open ^team event	–	5 92.44	1^T
2009–10 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
March 22–28, 2010	2010 World Championships	2 68.08	2 129.50	1 197.58
February 14–27, 2010	2010 Winter Olympics	2 73.78	2 131.72	2 205.50
January 25–31, 2010	2010 Four Continents Championships	3 57.22	1 126.74	1 183.96
December 25–27, 2009	2009–10 Japan Championships	1 69.12	1 135.50	1 204.62
October 22–25, 2009	2009 Rostelecom Cup	6 51.94	5 98.34	5 150.28
October 15–18, 2009	2009 Trophée Éric Bompard	3 58.96	2 115.03	2 173.99
October 3, 2009	2009 Japan Open ^team event	–	3 102.94	3^T
2008–09 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
April 15–19, 2009	2009 ISU World Team Trophy ^team event	1 75.84	1 126.03	3^T / 1^P 201.87
March 23–29, 2009	2009 World Championships	3 66.06	4 122.03	4 188.09
February 4–8, 2009	2009 Four Continents Championships	6 57.86	1 118.66	3 176.52
December 25–27, 2008	2008–09 Japan Championships	2 65.30	2 117.15	1 182.45
December 11–14, 2008	2008–09 Grand Prix Final	2 65.38	1 123.17	1 188.55
November 27–30, 2008	2008 NHK Trophy	1 64.64	1 126.49	1 191.13
November 13–16, 2008	2008 Trophée Éric Bompard	2 58.12	2 109.47	2 167.59
2007–08 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
April 20, 2008	2008 Japan Open ^team event	–	1 128.03	1^T
March 17–23, 2008	2008 World Championships	2 64.10	2 121.46	1 185.56
February 13–17, 2008	2008 Four Continents Championships	1 60.94	1 132.31	1 193.25
December 26–28, 2007	2007–08 Japan Championships	1 72.92	2 132.41	1 205.33
December 13–16, 2007	2007–08 Grand Prix Final	6 59.04	1 132.55	2 191.59
November 15–18, 2007	2007 Trophée Éric Bompard	1 56.90	1 122.90	1 179.80
November 1–4, 2007	2007 Skate Canada International	3 58.08	1 119.58	1 177.66
2006–07 season
Date	Event	SP	FS	Total
April 29, 2007	2007 Japan Open ^team event	–	4 101.47	1^T
March 19–25, 2007	2007 World Championships	5 61.32	1 133.13	2 194.45
December 27–29, 2006	2006–07 Japan Championships	1 71.14	1 140.62	1 211.76
December 14–17, 2006	2006–07 Grand Prix Final	1 69.34	4 103.18	2 172.52
November 30 – December 3, 2006	2006 NHK Trophy	1 69.50	1 130.02	1 199.52
October 26–29, 2006	2006 Skate America	1 68.84	4 102.39	3 171.23

• ^team event – This is a team event; medals are awarded for the team results only.
  • ^T – team result
  • ^P – personal/individual result
• World records highlighted in bold and italic
• Personal bests highlighted in bold
• ISU seasons' bests highlighted in italic

2003–2006

2005–06 season
Date	Event	Level	QR	SP	FS	Total
March 14, 2006	2006 Japan Open ^team event	Senior	–	–	1 125.72	1^T
March 6–12, 2006	2006 World Junior Championships	Junior	1 113.58	2 56.10	2 97.25	2 153.35
December 23–25, 2005	2005–06 Japan Championships	Senior	–	3 66.64	3 121.46	2 188.10
December 16–18, 2005	2005–06 Grand Prix Final	Senior	–	1 64.38	1 125.24	1 189.62
November 17–20, 2005	2005 Trophée Éric Bompard	Senior	–	1 63.96	1 118.46	1 182.42
November 2–6, 2005	2005 Cup of China	Senior	–	2 62.92	3 113.68	2 176.60
2004–05 season
Date	Event	Level	QR	SP	FS	Total
February 26 – March 3, 2005	2005 World Junior Championships	Junior	1 112.32	1 60.11	1 119.13	1 179.24
December 24–26, 2004	2004–05 Japan Championships	Senior	–	4 60.46	2 106.36	2 166.82
December 2–5, 2004	2004–05 ISU Junior Grand Prix Final	Junior	–	1 57.91	1 114.92	1 172.83
September 29 – October 3, 2004	2004–05 ISU Junior Grand Prix, Ukraine	Junior	–	1 56.24	1 86.75	1 142.99
September 9–12, 2004	2004–05 ISU Junior Grand Prix, USA	Junior	–	1 50.14	1 87.88	1 138.02
2003–04 season
Date	Event	Level	TFP	SP	FS	Total
March 10–13, 2004	2004 Mladost Trophy	Novice	1.5	1	1	1
December 2–5, 2003	2003 Helena Pajovic Cup	Novice	2.0	2	1	1

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External links

• Official Site (Japanese)
• Mao Asada at the International Skating Union